The Miami Heat won Game 7 by the score of 95-88, crowning themselves as the 2013 NBA Champions. LeBron James had a huge game dropping 37 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to pick up his second NBA Finals MVP. However, the Heat team got weird contributions from their players as they got help from a different group of guys to win the franchise's third championship.
Only five Heat players scored in Game 7. Aside from James' 37 points, Dwyane Wade added 23 points, Mario Chalmers had 14, Chris Andersen had three and the biggest surprise, Shane Battier finished with 18 points. That wasn't a typo, Battier hit six three-pointers, looking like the Battier of old as he once again became a major part of the Heat offense. It was tough for Battier as he had to sit out a lot of games as he couldn't buy a three throughout the playoffs.
Key Heat players who didn't score tonight; Chris Bosh went 0-5, but added seven rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. Three of his seven rebounds came from the offensive end of the floor. Ray Allen also went cold, going 0-4 with three turnovers as the Spurs repeatedly stripped him from behind as he drove to the basket. Mike Miller couldn't find his release point and went 0-5 from the floor, including 0-4 from three-point range.
For the Spurs, they made it close in the closing minutes. With 3:22 remaining in the game, the Heat led by six points as the scoreboard read 88-82. The Spurs then tied the game after Tim Duncan completed a three-point play and then Kawhi Leonard sank a three pointer. The clock read 2:00 and after that moment, the Spurs didn't score another point.
Duncan missed an easy tip-in that would have tied the game at 90 and he later slapped the floor like he was playing college basketball again. He finished the game with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but all he will think about is the game-tying shot he missed with about 47 seconds remaining in the game.
Miami was able to rely on James as he closed out the game for them. He later picked off a steal on a pass intended for Duncan and hit two pivotal free throws. James went 8-8 from the free throw line proving clutch when it mattered most. James was named the NBA Finals MVP and he earned it in the second and third quarters as he combined to score 24 points. His three-ball was also key as he went 5-10 from beyond the arc.
With the victory, Miami was able to become the first team to win consecutive games in this series as the Spurs played great basketball and were worthy competitors.
